Research Interests

Central nervous system processes in the maintenance of homeostasis; estrogen effects within the central nervous system related to body fluid regulation, body weight regulation, and responses to physiological stress. I use neuroanatomical, electrophysiological, physiological, and behavioral methods to investigate central pathways and neurotransmitter systems involved in regulated physiological processes.

The goal of my research is to understand the central processes by which diverse sensory signals are integrated and coordinated with physiological and behavioral output to maintain homeostasis, and the role of estrogen in those central processes.

One research direction focuses on estrogen and the central control of body fluid regulation. These studies emphasize the central effects of estrogen in response to acute and chronic challenges to body sodium levels, or to body fluid volume balance, and examine:

The overall goal is to determine whether specific subpopulations of neurons are differentially activated by and/or mediate compensatory responses to body fluid challenges.

Another research direction focuses on the role of estrogen in body weight regulation and the control of food intake. These studies emphasize the central effects of estrogen in response to restricted access to food and examine:

activity in phenotypically-identified neurons in central areas associated with the control of feeding

The overall goal is to determine whether specific subpopulations of neurons and of central estrogen receptors contribute to feeding and body weight regulation during restricted access to food.

A more recent research direction focuses on estrogen effects on physiological and behavioral manifestations of stress.These studies emphasize the central effects of estrogen and of moderate intensity exercise in response to acute and repeated stressors and examine:

hormonal and behavioral responses to physiological stressors

effects of voluntary vs. forced exercise

interactions between physiological and psychogenic stressors

The overall goal is to assess the effects of estrogen, moderate intensity exercise, and their interactions in reducing anxiety in the face of diverse stressors.

The importance of these studies for human health issues is clear. Obesity, hypertension and stroke are epidemic and in many cases the mechanism(s) remain unclear. Moreover, estrogen has been suggested to influence body weight and to have ‘cardioprotective’ effects, health issues likely to have increasing impact as the population ages. Thus, this research not only will further understanding of the role of the central nervous system in regulated physiological processes, but also has important clinical implications.